Jessica Hart’s The Hamptons
Escape to the “in crowd’s” favorite summer playground, a top model’s ideal getaway.
Cindy Crawford tells the story of what her daughter wants to be when she grows up: “A singer and a dancer, but – and the way she said this was so cute – she might model first because you don’t have to have any special skills.” Elite model Jessica Hart might disagree. The Founder of LUMA Cosmetics and a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model as well as a fresh face for Dior, Louis Vuitton, Guess International, L’Oreal, Moschino, Max Mara, H&M, John Frieda hair care products, and many more fashion and beauty lines, Jessica has hit the ground running since the beginning of her modeling career. The 5’ 9½” leggy blonde stunner has come a long way since leaving her native Melbourne. Her lithe form, bright blue eyes and adorable gap toothed smile have graced catwalks in Japan, London, Paris, Melbourne and New York City.
“Modeling has allowed me to travel all around the world. I love the chance to meet new people, try new food and experience different cultures,” Jessica said. “I’ve discovered some of my favorite places on shoots, like Turks & Caicos, St. Lucia, Paris, Morocco and the Aeolian Islands off Italy in Sicily, which are just gorgeous.”
When the sets come down and the bright lights are switched off, it’s not the throbbing beat of nightclubs that appeals most to the Aussie beauty, but rather the simple pleasures of home and hearth. “Modeling isn’t physically hard but it can be emotionally draining – you have to be happy and smiling on days when you might not be happy and might not want to smile. When I’m off I love to do simple things, like relax at home. It’s so great to just sit around, watch movies and cook simple dishes in the kitchen.”
The hustle and bustle of New York City can present some challenges to relaxing, so as often as possible, Jessica heads two hours east to her favorite destination -- the Hamptons. A consortium of nine hamlets on the east end of Long Island, New York, the Hamptons have long been a playground for the rich and famous. Every year between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the area’s beachside communities swell with vacationers, tourists, celebrities, Moneyed Manhattanites and all the people who cater to them, creating a vacation spot that’s part seaside resort and part “see and be seen.”
“The Hamptons are kind of a funny place,” said Jessica. “By day it’s like a typical beach town and then at night it’s the biggest party. I feel like I’ve stepped into a movie in East Hampton, almost like Pleasantville where it’s all very pretty and perfect, but then things are not exactly what they seem. With its big open green spaces and big houses, you feel like you’re out in the country, but then you’re on the beach. It’s not obvious initially but this area is actually quite quirky.”
Part bucolic farmland, part pristine beach, historical preservation is highly prized in the Hamptons, but so is being able to buy the latest Gucci handbag in town. Proximity to New York City makes the land highly coveted, and it’s quite possible you’ll see the likes of Martha Stewart, Steven Spielberg or P. Diddy inching along the main drag of Route 27 in a spotless, dark SUV. Yet there’s no shortage of local farmers to stock produce stands, farmer’s markets and ultimately, restaurant larders.
“I remember the first time someone said, ‘Oh we’re going to a barbeque,’ so I put on denim shorts and flip flops and when we pulled up at the house they had valet parking and a professional chef. That’s the Hamptons,” said Jessica.
To fully appreciate the pleasures and paradoxes of the Hamptons, schedule your visit for the swinging summer season, or, if you’d like a bit more peace and quiet, in the weeks after Labor Day. “The shoulder season is lovely because almost everything is still open, but the summer crowds have fled, making it much easier to get around,” said Lisa Friscie, manager of the General Home Store in East Hampton.
Each village has its own mood. East Hampton is picturesque and full of tony shops and highly rated restaurants. Montauk has a surfer vibe and bills itself as “where the Hamptons relax.” You might miss the town of Water Mill, as it’s so unassuming, keeping its attraction and dining treasures a bit more under wraps. Amagansett’s name is Indian for “place of good water,” and its beaches are popular attractions, as is the town’s marine museum. Jessica loves to stroll Sag Harbor, which provides walking tours of its historical Main Street, lined with the homes of early colonists, whaling captains and wealthy industrialists.
As far as a home base, you’ll have lots of options from tiny bed and breakfasts, like the 6-room 1770’s House in East Hampton to 140-room condominium hotels, like Montauk Manor. The Surf Lodge, also in Montauk, offers bicycles for rent, a casual nightclub, restaurant and breathtaking sunset views over Fort Pond. Gurney’s Inn in Montauk is a 109-room resort with one of the nation’s only Thalasso spas, offering sea water and seaweed beauty treatments year round. “We have our own seawater well, and all our pools are seawater, which is rich in vitamins and minerals that help the body recharge,” said spa director Candice Monte.
Jessica has stayed at the Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina, which offers 107 guestrooms, villas and suites. “The villa suites are so romantic, you have to drive up to them by car, so they feel really secluded and private,” she said.
Once you’re settled, it’s time to venture out for some of the fresh seafood the island is known for. Lobster, crab, clam, shrimp and mussels appear on menus throughout the Hamptons, and you’ll want to try it all. Jessica’s palate savors Chinese at Philippe Chow’s, sushi at Suki Zuki in Water Mill and ribs at Townline BBQ in Sagaponack. Some of the area’s other top picks are Pierre’s in Bridgehampton, The Laundry Restaurant in East Hampton and The American Hotel in Sag Harbor.
For a low budget but delicious option, pull off Route 27 at The Clam Bar between Amagansett and Montauk. You can hop up on one of the bar stools or take a seat at a handful of tables that sit next to the road stand. The lobster roll is crammed with meaty chunks of fresh lobster and the spicy crab and sweet corn chowder is flavorful with a touch of heat. Throughout the Hamptons many restaurants have price fixe menus that allow you to savor several courses and dessert for a set price.
To really do the Hamptons right, plan on some time lying by the pool, swimming in the ocean and walking on the beach. Once you’ve soaked up enough sun and surf, there’s still plenty more to do. Shopping, horseback rides along the beach, spa treatments, tennis, golf, boating and whale watching are all favorite pastimes. Jessica loves Georgica beach in East Hampton, even though she prefers not to get in water much higher than her waist. “My dog Charlie loves the ocean and tries to run in, but his legs are so little.”
With her globetrotting schedule, Jessica savors her free time, and it’s hard for any destination, no matter how wonderful, to compete with the couch in her apartment. But the Hamptons are a major exception. “I would live my life here if I could, aside from being home in Australia. I love being able to run on the sand, be in the ocean, breathe the sea air. This place is one-of-a-kind. I love it out here.”
Barbara Wayman is the author of Living An Extraordinary Life: 9 Transformational Strategies to Live Your Best Life Now.